Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Just outside of Chattanooga TN headed west to Nashville, TN I-24 starts to twist and turn through the Blue Ridge Mountains.This one pass reminds me of the Pacific Northwest and the drive along the coast to Port Angeles.

What a wonderful sight crossing the TN/AL state line today. The highlight of the Alabama Visitors Center is the complete Saturn 1B from the Apollo program. Of course this aging space buff had to stop and take many pictures!

The Saturn 1B was built in Huntsville AL at the Marshall Space Flight Center and was the brain child of Dr Wernher von Braun.

In July 1962, when NASA announced its intention to use the lunar orbit rendezvous, the space agency also released details on the two other Saturn vehicles. The three-stage Saturn V was planned for the lunar mission. A corollary decision called for development of an interim vehicle, the Saturn IB, to permit early testing of Apollo-Saturn hardware, such as the manned command and service modules, and the manned lunar excursion module in Earth orbit, as well as the S-IVB stage of the Saturn V. This decision permitted such flight testing a year before the Saturn V would be available. Chrysler's initial contract, completed late in 1962, called for 13 first-stage Saturn IB boosters and 8 Saturn I first-stage boosters.

Monday, June 26, 2006

While visiting a CVS in Louisville KY I stayed in Clarksville IN located on the sunnyside of Louisville, on the banks of the Ohio River. Clarksville is a town of more than 22,000 people and 600 businesses. Located between Jeffersonville and New Albany, Clarksville is a blend of old historic sites and new shopping, business and residential areas.This picture is of Clarksville's new War Memorial located near my hotel. It consist of a black granite stone covered by a columned dome and fronted by a fountain. The American flag flies on top of the dome. The memorial is situated at the Clarksville Municipal Center, adjacent to the Administration Building.

Clearly seen from the Hwy I took this picture of the Channel 6 Zooballoon during my last trip to Philly!

Climb aboard the Channel 6 Zooballoon and embark on a soaring-safari. Rise high above the treetops of the Zoo and overlook giraffes and zebras. Elevate to heights of 400 feet and enjoy spectacular views of Fairmount Park and the Philadelphia skyline. Guests may enjoy both daytime and evening flights on the region's lone passenger carrying helium balloon. Voyages last approximately 15 minutes. In 1793, more than two hundred years before the launch of the Channel 6 Zooballoon, the first North American passenger balloon flight occurred in Philadelphia. The pilot Jean-Pierre Blanchard launched his balloon from the Walnut Street prison yard and landed 46 minutes later near Woodbury, NJ. President George Washington was present to witness the launch.

Tradition tells of a chime that changed the world on July 8, 1776, with the Liberty Bell ringing out from the tower of Independence Hall summoning citizens to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the Bell in 1751 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges.Penn's charter, Pennsylvania's original Constitution, speaks of the rights and freedoms valued by people the world over. Particularly forward thinking were Penn's ideas on religious freedom, his liberal stance on Native American rights, and his inclusion of citizens in enacting laws.As it was to commemorate the Charter's golden anniversary, the quotation "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," from Leviticus 25:10, was particularly apt. For the line in the Bible immediately preceding "proclaim liberty" is, "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year." What better way to pay homage to Penn and hallow the 50th year than with a bell proclaiming liberty?

Ross never owned this house, but rented here between the years of 1773 and 1786. The house was built about 1740 and consists of 2-1/2 floors and nine rooms. Betsy and her husband, John Ross, lived here and ran their upholstery business out of the house as well.Other businesses occupied the House, after Betsy moved from here in 1786, until it was acquired by the Betsy Ross Memorial Association. Starting in 1898, two million Americans donated dimes to the Association to help convert the house from a time-worn building into a national shrine. In the 1920s, as the neighborhood declined, serious consideration was given to moving the structure to Fairmount Park (the largest urban park in the U.S.) due to a concern for its safety because of the severe risk of fire posed by two adjacent factories.Sightseers today find that the factories are gone. In 1937, the building was donated to the city of Philadelphia and restored with the monetary assistance of radio-manufacturing millionaire Atwater Kent.

Construction of the Pennsylvania State House, which came to be known as Independence Hall, began in 1732. It was a symbol of the nation to come. At the time it was the most ambitious public building in the thirteen colonies. The Provincial government paid for construction as they went along, so it was finished piecemeal. It wasn't until 1753, 21 years after the groundbreaking, before it was completed. It was the original "Philadelphia lawyer," none other than Andrew Hamilton that oversaw the planning and worked to guarantee its completion. Hamilton had won renown for his successful 1735 defense of Peter Zenger in New York that was to become a freedom-of-the-press landmark.The building has undergone many restorations, notably by Greek revival architect John Haviland in 1830, and by a committee from the National Park Service, in 1950, returning it to its 1776 appearance.Independence Hall is, by every estimate, the birthplace of the United States. It was within its walls that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. It was here that the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed. That document is the oldest federal constitution in existence and was framed by a convention of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies. Rhode Island did not send a delegate. George Washington presided over the debate which ran from May to September 1787. The draft comprising a preamble and seven Articles, was submitted to all thirteen states and was to take effect when ratified by nine states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire, the ninth state, approved it and it became effective in March 1789.Notable among the document's many innovative features is the separation of powers among the legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial branches of government. Also important is that the Congress was split into two houses, the upper house (originally in the upper floor of adjoining Congress Hall), and the lower house (main floor of Congress Hall); the first gave equal power to all the states regardless of size and the second gave proportional representation according to size. You have to imagine the debates between the large and small states each attempting to form a government favoring them. You also have to marvel that this compromise was reached at all — a tribute to the extraordinary minds that were working together to make a new nation that could survive and renew itself in the face of unforeseeable obstacles.

Friday, June 16, 2006

As I headed through Washington this week to an unexpected CVS visit in Manalapan NJ I was able to snap this picture of the Washington Monument from Hwy 295.

Of all the Presidents of the United States, George Washington is the most celebrated. Efforts to commemorate his legacy began during his lifetime and continue to this day. Down through the years they have taken on many forms. His leadership and service to the republic have been distinguished through the naming of the federal capital, universities, streets, counties, and a state. In addition to these honors, he had been remembered in works of art, monumental buildings, and historic preservation, involving Americans of all walks of life. But none have captured the imagination of the people world-wide like the Washington Monument.

The Brut Funny Car was part of the re-grand opening of the CVS located in Manalapan NJ.Following an extended hiatus, Brut®, "The Essence of Man®", returns to competitive drag racing. Marketed by Idelle Labs, Ltd., a division of leading personal care company, Helen of Troy, Brut has become the primary sponsor of a Ron Capps-driven nitro Funny Car fielded by perennial championship-contender Don Schumacher Racing.A pioneer of sports-related marketing in the 1960s and 70s, featuring endorsements by athletic icons including Muhammad Ali and Joe Namath, Brut previously sponsored a nitro Funny Car driven by veteran Al Segrini. Now, the popular men's fragrance and grooming products giant returns with a comprehensive sports marketing strategy keying the sizable, customer-rich environment of motorsports. Indianapolis-based Just Marketing Inc., an industry-leading motorsports marketing agency, will negotiate and implement key elements of Brut's multi-year racing program.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

An added treat to my visit to Washington DC was as I walked back to my car and Marine One flew low overhead!HMX-1 was established in December 1947 as an experimental unit to test and evaluate helicopters and tactics.HMX-1 provides all helicopter transportation for the President both overseas and within the continental United States.In addition, HMX-1 provides helicopter transportation for the Vice President, members of the President's Cabinet, and foreign dignitaries as directed by the White House Military Office.HMX-1 also provides helicopter emergency evacuation and other support as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.Marine One is the call sign used when the President is on board of one of the HMX-1 Marine helicopters. The primary presidential helicopter is the Sikorsky VH-3D (Sea King).HMX-1 is tasked with the Operational Test and Evaluation of US Marine Corps assault helicopters and related equipment.

While trying to find my way to Washington's Dulles International Airport I happen to look to my right and there it was!!!Directly across the Potomac River from the District of Columbia in Arlington County, Virginia, is the building that has become a synonym for the Department of Defense--the Pentagon. This enormous and busy structure had its origins during World War II. The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 placed tremendous demands on the War Department and greatly increased its needs for office space. By 1941 department personnel worked in at least seventeen different buildings within Washington D.C. Although the department opened a new building in the northwest part of the city, it became inadequate even before it was occupied. The War Department needed a new home and a big one. ..."The Chief of Construction Division under the U.S. Army Quartermaster General in 1941 was Brigadier General Brehon B. Somervell. He became the prime planner for what would eventually be the War Department's massive home. As an alternative to temporary facilities proposals in 1941, Brig. Gen. Somervell and his associates took less than four days to develop plans for a mammoth three-story facility to house 40,000 people!

This week brought me to the Free Masons shinning model city Washington DC.CVS is building a new store on the corner of 4th and Mass just a few blocks south of the capital.The symbolic and physical heart of the United States Capitol is the Rotunda, an imposing circular room 96 feet in diameter and 180 feet in height. It is the principal circulation space in the Capitol, connecting the House and Senate sides, and is visited by thousands of people each day. The Rotunda is used for important ceremonial events as authorized by concurrent resolution, such as the lying in state of eminent citizens and the dedication of works of art. As it appears today, the Rotunda is the result of two distinct building campaigns. Dr. William Thornton, who won the competition for the design of the Capitol in 1793, conceived the idea of a central rotunda. Due to a shortage of funds and materials, sporadic construction phases, and the fire set by the British in 1814, the Rotunda was not begun until 1818. The Rotunda was completed under the direction of Charles Bulfinch by the time of the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824. Conceived in the age of neoclassicism, the Rotunda was intended to recall the Pantheon, the ancient Roman temple.

Friday, June 02, 2006

This week brought me to Danville VA site of the most famous wreck in American rail history. On September 27, 1903, “Old 97.” The Southern Railway’s crack express mail train, was running behind schedule. Its engineer “gave her full throttle,” but the speed of the train caused it to jump the tracks on a high trestle overlooking the valley of the Dan. The engine and five cars plunged into the ravine below, killing nine and injuring seven, but immortalizing the locomotive and its engineer, Steve Broady, in a now well-known song. Marker is located on U.S. 58 between Locust Lane and North Main Street at the train crash site.